To Protect Tomorrow

Bang-!!!

A loud roar echoed.
There was a sound of something bursting.
The source of the noise was none other than Ma Hana.

<Kallas Shield Technique> Form 5.
A Hero grade skill,
The girl wrapped in [Devotion of the Wolf Spirit King]
looked ahead with a determined expression.

“Muuuuuaaaah!”

The metal object in front cracked.
It was a high-strength lithium metal wall implemented for training.

The provider was Ju Na-young.
The metal wall procured from <Dragon Sword Mir> bore clear shield marks.

Watching this, Yu Seha smiled gently.
He unfolded his arms and approached Ma Hana.

Placing his hand on her head, he patted her.
As a bonus, he gave a thumbs-up as if to say “Well done.”

“Mua, mua~”
“As expected, our Peng Jin-ah. Amazing.”
“Mua~ It’s all thanks to Se-ha.”

Ma Hana smiled brightly.
Currently, a symbol representing [Eye of Reversal] was engraved on the back of her hand.

Simultaneously, the <Information Window> appeared.

[‘Sharing’ is activated.]
[Target: Ma Hana]
[The target with the deepest bond to owner Yu Seha.]
[Ma Hana’s strength and durability increase by 20 each.]
[Due to temporarily excessive stats, rank is elevated.]
[Current rank: A]

He nodded with satisfaction.

Then, the training continued.

“Muaaaah!”

Ma Hana raised her shield high and slammed it down with a ‘thud.’
Blue light spread and a wolf-shaped protective barrier covered the area.
<Kallas Shield Technique> Form 3, [Twilight Wolf’s Veil].
A useful skill that sets up a shield proportional to durability.

Additionally, Ma Hana activated a high-level Holy Law she had never learned before.

“<Wave of the Usurping Light>!”

Flash-!
White light flickered around Ma Hana.
Like waves rolling.

Although the range was less than when Yu Seha used it,
Activation was what mattered.

Soon, minor wounds from training healed,
And traps placed nearby shattered under the light waves.

A complete success.
Ma Hana raised both arms and bounced happily.
Her tail buzzed like a helicopter, showing her good mood.
Then she ran toward Yu Seha, who looked at her with admiration, and hugged him.

“Seha, I did it!”
“Yes, yes! Our Peng Jin-ah is amazing! You’re truly a genius!”
“Mua~”

Our angel-like Peng Jin-ah!
Lifted up!
Spinning around~

About a week had passed since Yu Seha taught the three about the power of <Sharing>.

As expected, <Sharing> was ridiculously overpowered.

Though the ability itself was overwhelmingly strong,
those receiving it couldn’t handle it easily.
It couldn’t be handled so easily.

―Yo, Yong-ah, Seha, this disappears in 1 minute…?
―It’s cold! Hoo, hueng! Se, Seha? How do you control the ‘Dragon Rising Tidal Wave’? It’s harder to handle than ice or fire…?
―Muaang! Mshaak! Mkuaa, mrrrrr! Meowwwww!!!

At first, they couldn’t even adapt for a minute.
Lending stats was a challenge.
Suddenly, absurd numbers surged,
Making it hard for all three to control their powers.

Ju Na-young crushed the table during a meal.

Moon Bora froze the entire training ground due to the wide range of her magic.

Ma Hana was so cute that she had to be placed on the lap and petted for a long time.

After five days of grueling practice,
Everyone could use it to their desired level.

’Sharing has a cooldown of 24 hours.’

Duration for stats or skills lasts independently for 6 hours each.

At least during battle, the duration isn’t too short to be unusable.

‘Currently, once borrowed, switching to another isn’t possible…’

But signs showed that later…
Multiple skills could be borrowed and used.

“Seha? Hana? Dinner’s ready.”
“Yong-ah, come quickly!”

Suddenly, Ju Na-young and Moon Bora’s voices were heard.
Yu Seha and Ma Hana smiled at each other.

“We’ll be right there!”
“Mua~ I’ll come!”

Thus, a time that seemed peaceful and harmonious forever.

A precious and happy two weeks with the kids passed.

As always, disaster came at an unexpected time.

Yes.
As always.

―Mua-yong-ah huengengeng!!!

A sudden bell sound.
The caller was Chairman Yu Neung-ha.

Yu Seha was inspecting weapons in the training room.

The moment he saw the phone,
He felt an inexplicable chill.
His heart tightened.
His fist clenched instinctively.

‘A small thought of ‘Could it be…?’
He hurriedly answered the call,
and Yu Neung-ha’s startled reaction confirmed the arrival of the expected.

―Yu, Yu, Yu, Yu Seha! Sorry for calling at night!

“…They’ve come. Those guys.”

―Y-Yes!

The criminal clan <Tartarus>.

―Their attack has begun! They’re coming here!

“…I’m coming immediately.”

Yu Seha stood up.
He opened a pocket dimension.
In his hand was a special bullet containing the magic power of clan member ‘Kim Min-su.’
The lingering magic clustered like feathers shook wildly.

This phenomenon appeared due to the large-scale movement.
At the same time, it was a resonance visible because they were heading to <Gonis Hunter Academy>.

“…”

Yu Seha was silent.
He placed the phone down without turning it off.

Yu Neung-ha’s voice, urgently giving instructions,
Had faintly echoed.

‘Haa…’

Actually…
Yes, to be honest.

He wished this day never came.
He wished this crisis never arrived.

‘Just like always…’

Kids laughing together,
Eating meals,
Living together,
Sometimes fighting, reconciling, and playing,
He wanted such peaceful days to last forever.

Of course, he knew.
It would come someday…
Though not this soon.

‘Prepared, ready, and resolved…’

Yet when the day came, his heart was restless.
But he couldn’t sit down and give up.
Because…

―If we defeat this approaching great evil, we can protect our future lives.

“…!”

Suddenly, a clear voice whispered in his ear.
As if someone opened his heart and read his mind.

It wasn’t Yu Neung-ha.
Looking down, he saw two familiar faces on the screen.

Yu Neung-ha was squeezed between them,
Pressed by their huge chests, making muffled sounds.

On the left,
a bronze-skinned woman wearing Roman-style brass armor.

On the right,
a Miao tribe woman wearing a black hat turned backward, with a small scar on her face.

No doubt.

“Professor Strict?”

―Long time no see, Hero.
―Yeah~ Long time no see! Handsome guy.

Looking closely, there were more than just two.
About 30 hunters who shook hands at the <Eastern Sword Heaven> training ground that day.

All were outstanding and held beliefs for justice in their hearts.

From the noise on the speaker,
it was clear various hunters had gathered.

Could it be they read this in advance?
Yu Seha looked at Yu Neung-ha in surprise,
and the squeezed Yu Neung-ha wiped her nose.

―Hehe. Just in case, I secretly had them stay at the academy in rotation. Also, I set up a base so they can come immediately anytime. The budget was shattered, but if we can protect it, money spent is nothing.

“Then, now…?”

―Yes, those I hired, gathered to help. A total of 750 hunters.

An overwhelmingly powerful number beyond expectations.
Different affiliations, groups, missions, and purposes,
But all facing the approaching great evil.

A top armed force in South Korea gathered to oppose <Tartarus>.

―They all gathered just now. Everyone is rushing to their positions, and I’ve contacted Peng Jin-ah and the Plum Sword Empress. But it’s a bit far, so even with warp devices, it’ll take some time. Oh, and Vice President Su Ok-bin will come too.

After finishing, Proffessor Strict and Neung Ha-Ack pushed Yu Neung-ha aside, and faced the screen.

―Hero. We will now engage the mine and villains.

“…Understood. Then, I will also-”

―No, handsome guy? You don’t have to come.

“…What?”

A bit startled.

Soon, professor strict and Neung Ha-Ack nodded to each other.

―…You’re still a kid. Only 19 years old.
―Neung Ha-Ack is right. Hero, you are still young. We adults will take care of this place.

Children are meant to be protected by adults and lead the future.

Please evacuate safely with your comrades.

We adults will risk our lives to protect this place.

“…”

Yu Seha froze like stone.
Still holding the phone.

He closed his eyes.

Inside, a thin yet charming voice said, ‘Let’s do that! You’ve worked hard so far, right? Just by informing them of the attack in advance and preparing is enough!’

‘…’

But he soon rejected it.
He shook his head.
He couldn’t.

He couldn’t ignore those risking their lives just for their own safety.

“…I will go too.”

―Hero…

“I also sent you all to the battlefield. I must take responsibility.”

―…Hey, hey, we said we’d do it-“

“And I don’t want to regret it.”

An instinctive feeling shouted.
He must go now.
And settle this.

This moment was the core and decisive chapter of the continuing main story.
Unless he seals a definite victory here…
He had a premonition he would never reach the happy ending he wanted.

Yu Seha looked firmly at the two.
Professor Strict and Neung Ha-ack sighed softly.

―…Understood. Then we will head to the battlefield first.
―Don’t overdo it.

“Thank you. Good luck.”

Click.

The call ended.
Yu Seha opened his hand.

[Slime’s Exhibition Hall] opened,
And the equipment he prepared was equipped.
Finally, a necklace hung around his neck.

A few months ago, Chairman Yu Neung-ha gave it against <Sea Dragon>,
An artifact of the <Magic System> ‘Amelia’ for forced recall.
Essentially a lifeline for worst-case scenarios.

Lastly, he took out a small ‘Rune Stone.’
A warp stone that allows entry to <Gonis Hunter Academy>.

“…”

Yu Seha hesitated as he raised it.
He turned his head at a sensed presence.

He saw the group that had entered.
Ma Hana, Moon Bora, Ju Na-young, Choi Mari, even Natsu and Yuri.

All equipped and watching.
Including Yu Seha, the group was unknowingly preparing for the decisive battle.

“…”

He tried to say something.
Various words of discouragement.
Similar to what professor Strict and Neung Ha-ack said for him.
But as if it was useless, each added a word.

It started with Moon Bora and Ju Na-young.

“Seha, it’s useless to stop us. We’ll join too.”
“Yong-ah, right! We all worked hard for this from the start, right?”

Here, timid and fearful Choi Mari firmly gripped her mace.
Under her usual nun’s habit,
chainmail blessed with holy water was worn.

“…I, I will go too, junior.”
“…Senior Mari.”
“We cannot stand by and watch the crisis approaching the academy! I am also a second-year student and your senior. Now that many are going to the battlefield, even juniors are stepping up! We cannot tremble here! Also, I heard Shin Bitgaram senior joined the fight.”

At the end of Choi Mari’s words,
A very strong holy power surrounded everyone including Yu Seha.

The source of the holy power was Natsu & Yuri.
The young girls holding hands gave blessings with serious eyes, not their usual playful dance.

“Ding dong! All 10 types of buffs lasting up to 24 hours are applied!”
“Docking! S-Seha oppa. We’re going too.”

Of course, the two Holy Maidens do not head to the front lines.
They have separate.
Very important roles.

But whatever it is…
Heading to the bloody battlefield was unchanged.

Everyone’s faces were full of resolve.
Still, Yu Seha hesitated.
He knew it was unreasonable.

But…

‘…Damn it.’

Imagining injuries made him dizzy.
If even one became disabled, or worst case…
A true crisis where they might die.

At that moment, he bit his lip.

Suddenly.

With a soft touch, a calming warmth was felt.

A small armored furball appeared before his eyes.
Ma Hana.
Angel-like Peng Jin-ah.
His favorite character.
And,
Probably the first woman he ever truly loved in his life.

She smiled brightly and wagged her tail.

“Mua, Seha. Trust us.”
“Peng Jin-ah…”
“We haven’t just been running to receive help until now.”

We want to show you.
That we can protect your side.

“That we can protect our homes and everyone’s bonds against the approaching great evil.”
“…”

Yu Seha looked back briefly.
Empty air.
The images of his deceased brothers and father lingered.

If it were just a few months ago…
He would have ignored their words and gone alone.

But now he knew.
Very well.

‘I am no longer alone.’

Yu Seha bowed his head.

“Everyone, please take care.”

Everyone smiled.
Then Ju Na-young raised his hand with an ‘Ah…’

“Yu Seha. I contacted mother.”
“…! Really?”
“Yes, it will take some time, but she said she’ll come immediately. Same for the <Dragon Sword Mir> clan members.”

Very welcome news.
S-rank hunter Ju Ye-young was coming.
Surely a great help.

A little later.

He infused power into the warp stone in his hand, and a magic circle was drawn beneath everyone.

“Then, let’s go.”

The group nodded with solemn expressions.

Beyond <Gonis Hunter Academy>, the fate deciding the future of this world.
The full-scale war against the great evil, <Tartarus>.
Now, it began.